Door operating and locking device.



J. F. COMEE.

DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1914.

11 167 30, Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. F. COMEE.

DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION Fll-.ED SEPT. 10. mm.

1 167580., Patented Jamll, 1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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@rnn snares EQSEFH F. CQMEE, 0F CHICAGQ, ILLHFQIS, fill CAMEL lfifil dllilll'fi, till CHICAGG, ILLINOIQ, A MAME? 309R @PERATWG AND EOCL' EUFQ' DEVICE,

4 Application filed September 10, 1914-.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .Josnrn F. COMEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Operatin and Lockin Devices, of which the following is aspeci cation.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad car appliances and has particular reference to improvements in car-door operating and looking mechanisms.

The object of my invention is to provide a car door operating and locking mechanism which shall consist of but few parts; which shall be strong and durable; by means of which the car door can be easily opened and closed; and which shall serve not only as a car opening and closing mechanism, but also as eficient means for securely holding the door in partly closed position and for locking the door in its closed position.

Y of a freight car provided wit further object of my invention is to pro vide a simple combined car door opener and lock; to provide a simple and eficient means for sealing the door in closed position, in combination with a door opener lock; and to provide an improved mechanism which shall be easily operable and yet very powerful, and by means of which freight car doors, even though'they do not operate easily, can be readily forced open and closed.

lvly invention consists of geared moor anism of simple and strong construction,

operable after the manner of a rack and gear, and by means of which great force can be applied to the car door to force it open or to close it, the operating lever being movable into and out of the line of travel of the door to lock the door in its closed osition, and to bring thehandle into operatmg position.

My invention also consists in the several combinations and arrangements or parts and constructions by which the above mentioned and other objects are attained and all as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. it, iltlild.

serial No. 861,039.

invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. l is a horizontal section on the line H of Fig. 1.

The usual construction of freight cars, at the present tune, is to provide them with doors upon their sides which slide back and forth to open and close a door opening in the side of the car, and the rough usage to which freight cars are subjected frequently distort the tracks upon which the door slides back and forth, causin the binding of the door and making it di cult to open or close 1t. This same efiect is sometimes produced from the warping of the door, but what ever the cause it frequently occurs that it is dificult to open or close the door and. as these doors must be operated when the car is away from the railroad shops and in such places that it is inconvenient to obtain or use necessary tools the consequence is that the doors are frequently broken or smashed. pieces to open the car, and thus the car owners are put to great expense. Further-- more, many freight our doors wrecked or destroyed for the reason that they are subject to be suddenly and violently or closed because they have been inadven tently left unfastened. freight car doors have to be repaired this reason than for any other.

By means of my invention l are enabled to provide a relatively inexpensive mocha nism which is always in position upon the car ready for instant use, which edectually holds the door in any position, eliminati; any destructive effect upon toe door on count of any sudden movement of the car, and by means of which the door can. be easily and quickly opened or closed, withstanding that it may be bound in the tracks or ways.

While I have illustrated my invention in combination with a sliding door upon the side of a freight car, it will be apparent that till did

Frobably more my invention is not limited to this partioular use.

in said drawings, A represents the body of the freight car; B the sliding door thereof, and O the door opening. 'I-lhe door is through the stud provided tion which strengthens the door at this point and prevents the edge of the door becoming badly warped. This protecting bar is secured to the door by bolts 6 which extend through the body of the door and secure the upper flange b of the bar against the front face of the door. The other flange 6 projects downwardly substantially in the plane of the rear face of the door. To further strengthen the door I provide a plate which is arranged flush with the inner face of the door and serves as a washer for the head of the bolt 6 the lower end of this plate being riveted to the depending flange b and thus securely holding the Z-bar in position on the door. I provide the web of the bar 6 with a line of holes I), forming what is practically a rack 6 upon the bottom edge of the door and extending from the rear edge to the front edge thereof, and I make use of this rack to forcibly move the door back and forth to open and close the door opening O. For this purpose I provide a gear mechanism D comprising a bracket d mounted upon the lower part of the car beneath the door, and arranged adjacent to the rear edge thereof. This bracket serves to carry the door operating gears, which consist of a gear 03 adapted to engage the rack 1) upon the bottom of the door and a smaller gear or pinion 03 adapted to engage the gear d and rotate same when the pinion is rotated. The gear d is mounted upon a stud bearing d forming part of the bracket al this gear being mounted in alinement with the rack b and beneath the door. The gear 03 isheld upon the stud by means of a rivet d which projects centrally through the stud and is formed with a head on its outer end beneath which a washer a? is secured, which washer forms a shoulder which engages the outer end of the hub al of the gear, and the gear is thus held against longitudinal movement on the stud. This gear d is always in mesh with the rack b and consequently the door cannot be moved back and forth unless the gear rotates. I provide a narrow ring (1 on the rear face of the gear 03 adapted to contact with the forward. face of the depending flange of the Z-bar which serves to reduce the friction between this gear and the door should the lower end of the door swing out into contact with the gear, it also serves as a guide to retain the lower edge of I the door in position. The pinion (2 on the other hand, is longitudinally movable on its stud for purposes as will be hereinafter explained. This pinion is mounted upon a stud (i forming a part of the bracket d, and a bolt or screw 03 passes centrally on its outer end with a head (1 beneath which a washer d is held forming a shoulder against which the hub of the pinion strikes when moved to the outer end of the stud. It will be noted memeo that some of the teeth, as shown at d, are laterally elongated so that when the pinion is moved back toward the car these teeth will still remain in engagement with the teeth of the gear. For rotating the pinion and in turn rotating the gear d and moving the door, I provide an operating lever E, which is provided at one-end with a rigid handle portion .6 which projects at right angles to the body of the lever. This lever is mounted in brackets e and 6 formed integrally with the pinion and arranged upon over the door opening C. When the lever E and pinion d are drawn out into operating relation to the gear (1 and the door, the lever clears the door and can be swung around to operate the mechanism free or clear of all projections. The lever E' serves not only as a means for rotating the pinion (i but also as a lock to hold the door in its closed position.- This lever is rotatable in the lugs e and e which permits it to be turned with the handle portion 6 parallel with the sideof the car and when the lever and pinion are forced to the limit of their movement toward the car and the handle 6 is placed parallel with the car the end of the handle just clears the adjacent side of the door. At this point on the door, that is, opposite to the end of the handle, I provide a bracket G which projects toward the handle and is provided with an open-topped socket g adapted to receive the end of the handle 6 when the lever E is dropped down from its operating or working position, as clearly indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the lever E and pinion d are thus moved inwardly toward the car and the handle of the lever is entered into the socket 9 it will be seen that the parts are withdrawn within the maximum width of the car, as defined by the bolt heads or nuts on the face of the door and that consequently the mechanism does not increase the maximum width of the car.

The body of the lever is provided with projecting stops 6 and e. e is adapted to retain the lever in its working position by contacting with the outer face 6 of the lug e at such time, and the inner stops 6 contact with the inner face 0? of the lug e and prevent the complete withdrawal of the lever E. For the purpose of permitting the lever E to move downwardly,

The upper stop stop willcontact with the inner face of the lug e at such time. The socket 9 serves the purpose ofpreventing the lever E being rotated once the handle has been entered into the socket. To retain the lever in this locking position I provide a tapered socket H immediately below the lower or inner end of the lever E when it is in vertical position, as shown in Fig. l, and pushed toward the car. This socket forms part of the bracket (P. This socket is tapered to guide the lower end a of the lever E in entering the socket and is provided with a transverse slot or opening 72, which is adapted to register with a transverse slot 6 formed in the lower end of the lever when the lever is in the socket. These several slots are adapted to receive a sealing band d, of usual or ordinary form, by means of which the lever is sealed in its locking position and cannot be removed therefrom without breaking the seal. W hen the door has been opened the door itself prevents any substantial movement of the lever E toward the car thus the pinion (i is retained in mesh with the gear 03 until the door has reached its closed position and the laterally elongated teeth @5 of the pinion are again in mesh with the gear. The pinion is consequently always retained in operative mesh with the gear. it will be understood that any opening movement of the car door will tend to cause the upper end of the lever, when in its locking position, to move to the right, and any movement of the lever in this direction tends through the gears and rac to move the door in a direction to close it, consequently any force applied to the door to open it results in a greater force being applied to the door to keep it closed. in other words, any opening force is balanced by an equal or greater closing force and consequently the door is held in its closed position without any undue strain being imparted to any member of the mechanism. Furthermore the weight of the lever E is sufiicient, by reason of the multiplication of power, to operate the mechanism and move the door, consequently the lever E, when in operating position, will always take a position in which it hangs down "ctively holds the door in whatever is i t either open, closed, or I any sudden or violent movement of the door. The mechanism thus prevents that destruction of the door which is due to the shifting of the door freely back and forth whdn it is left unlestoned.

It will now be clear that my door-operating mechanism is very simple, as it consists of very few parts and all of these parts are large, heavy and amply strong to withstand any force which may be applied to them; that the -.multiplicati.on of power from the handle e to the rack Z2 is such. that the door can be very easily opened or closed even if the tracks or door are so warped that the door is tightly bound.

It will be noted that the lever E, although it may he accidentally left in a position in which the handle a would project from the car, any obstruction with which it would come in contact would tend to throw it around parallel. with thecar and thus reduce the lateral projection of the mechanism.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, T do not limit or confine my invention to the specific structur s her in shown as described.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A sliding door in combination with gear mechanism operatively ng the door to move it back and a it. a rigid gear operating lever movable intoout of the path of the door, as and the pose specified.

2. ln a sliding door d locking mechanism a rack and gear device for open-- ing and closing. the door and a one piece lever for operating said. i l lever being movable into the oi the door when-the door is closed to loci: he door, as and for the purpose specified device, 5

door operating and locking me hanisin, comprising a rack tired to the a engaging the rack and lever for rotating the gear, said lever having part rigid therewith movable into the oi the door to lock it in closed position, movable out of the path of the door for rotating tne gean.

l. A door operating mechanism compris ing a rack secured to the door, a mechanism secured adjacent to the door and en gaging said rack, an operating lever having a handle rigid therewith carried by said mechanism, said lever being movable into the path of the door to loclr the door in closed position, and movable out of the path oi the door to operative nosi on and means for retaniing the lever is a door operatin and locking mechanism, comprising a rac fixed to the door, a gear engaging the rack and a lever for rotating the gear, said lever being movable into the path of the door to lock it in closed position, and movable out of the path of the door for rotating the gear, and means for sealing the lever in its locking position.

6. A sliding door in combination with a door-operating and locking mechanism comprising a rack fixed to the door, a gear secured adjacent to the door and engaging the rack, a pinion secured adjacent to the gear and in engagement therewith, a lever carried by the pinion, said lever and pinion being movable into the path of the doorto lock it in closed position, and out of the path of the door to operative position, said pinion being provided with transversely elongated teeth whichremain inmesh with the gear when the lever is in looking position, and said lever and pinion being retained in operative relation to the gear by the door when the door is not in its closed position.

7. In a freight car provided with a. sliding door, a door operating mechanism comprlsing a rack mounted upon the 'door, a gear mounted upon theside of the car and engaging the rack, a pinion also monnted uponIthe side of the car and engaging the gear, an operating lever rotatably mounted upon the pinion and movable with the pinion into and out of the path of the door,

,said lever being provided with a handle extending at right angles to the body thereof and the door being provided with a socket to receive said handle and prevent the rotation of the lever, as and for the purpose specified.

'8. A sliding freight car door in combination with a gear mechanism for operating the door, said mechanism comprising a rack carried by the lower edge of the door, a gear mounted upon the side of the car below the 1 door, apinion mounted upon the side of the car adjacent to andengaging the gear, a lever rotatably mounted on the pinion, said pinion being movable from and toward the car, means for preventing the removal of thelever fromthe pinion, a socket on the rear edge of the door for receiving the end of said lever when the lever is brought into alinement with the door, and a fixed socket on the car for receiving the opposite end of the lever when in its lockin position.

9. A sliding freight car oor in combination with a gear mechanism for operating the door, said mechanism comprising a rack carried by the lower edge of the door, a' gear mounted upon the side of the car below the door, a pinion mounted upon the side of the car adjacent to and engaging the gear, a lever rotatably mounted upon the pinlon,

said pinion with the lever being movable into and out of the path of the door, means for preventing the removal of the lever from the pinion, a socket on the adjacent edge of the door for receiving the end of said lever when the lever is moved into alinement with the door, a fixed socket on the car for receiving the opposite end of the lever when in its locking position, and means for sealing the lever in its locking position 10. In a car door operating and locking forth, a lever slidingly and rotatably mounted on the pinion and movable with the pinion "into and out of the path of the car door, said lever having a rigid handle portion projecting substantially at right angles to the body thereof, a socket on the rear edge of the car door to receive the end of said handle to retain the lveragainst rotation on the pinion and to lock'the door in closed positlon, and a fixed socket carried by the car beneath the pinion adapted to receive the other end of thelever when the lever is in looking position, as and for the purpose specified.

11. A sliding freight car door in combination with a door operating and locking mechanism comprising a rack secured to'the lower part of the door, a gear permanently meshing with the rack, a shifting pinion permanently meshing with the gear, and a lever carried by the shifting pinion and movable therewith to an inner door locking position and to an outer door operating position.

12. A sliding freight car door-in combination with a door operating and locking mechanism comprising a rack secured to the lower part of the door, a gear permanently meshing with the rack, a shifting pinion permanently meshing with the gear, a lever engaging said gear and shiftable therewith into and out of the path of the door and rotatable relatively to the pinion to lock the door in closed position, and means rigid with the door engaging said lever'when in locking position to prevent the rotation thereof and the shifting of said pinion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto, set my hand, this 5th day of September, 1914, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOSEPH F; COMEE. Witnessesi L. A Pmoen,

JOHN R. LEFEVRE. 

